Against expectations, the Florida Panthers have reached their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. Despite this remarkable postseason consistency, they are notably unusual in having never had a player win the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP.
The 2025 playoffs mark 60 years since Jean Béliveau of the Montreal Canadiens received the inaugural playoff MVP award in 1965, recognized for his outstanding 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) in 13 games. Including Béliveau`s Canadiens, only six franchises have reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals: the late-60s St. Louis Blues, the mid-70s Philadelphia Flyers, the late-70s Montreal Canadiens, the early-1980s New York Islanders, the early-2020s Tampa Bay Lightning, and the current Florida Panthers.
Of these six teams, five captured at least one championship and had at least one Conn Smythe recipient. Even the St. Louis Blues, who reached the Final three times primarily by dominating the weaker expansion division after 1967, saw goalie Glenn Hall win the playoff MVP in 1968, despite the team losing all three Finals appearances.
In the 2023 Final, Florida fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, with Jonathan Marchessault earning the MVP. The following year, the Panthers claimed the Cup, but Connor McDavid of the runner-up Edmonton Oilers was awarded the Conn Smythe, becoming only the sixth player from a losing team to receive it.
This means Florida, alongside the Boston Bruins teams that lost to Montreal in both 1977 and 1978, is only the second team to reach consecutive Finals without one of their players winning the Conn Smythe. (While the 1969 and 1970 Blues also fit this technically, they are often excluded from this comparison due to Glenn Hall`s win in 1968 and the unique circumstance of the expansion division path).
It`s particularly surprising that Florida hasn`t had a playoff MVP given the number of players on their roster who excel in the postseason environment. This group includes defensive forward Aleksander Barkov, dynamic power forward Matthew Tkachuk, impending free agent Sam Bennett, clutch scorer Carter Verhaeghe, and standout goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (`Playoff Bob`).
Their ability to consistently perform in high-pressure situations is clearly a key factor in their remarkable achievement of reaching the Eastern Conference Final three years in a row.
Will a Panthers player finally claim the Conn Smythe this year, regardless of the Final`s outcome? The competition is tough, but several Panthers players mentioned previously are strong contenders. It`s worth noting the unofficial criteria for voting often weigh performance both before (50%) and during (50%) the Stanley Cup Final.
Conn Smythe Power Ranking – Final Edition
1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid has a chance to join an elite group as only the fourth player to win the Conn Smythe in consecutive years. He currently leads all playoff skaters in scoring (26 points), points per game (1.63), and even-strength points (22). Should Edmonton lift the Cup, it`s highly probable that McDavid will be recognized as their most valuable player.
2. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
Draisaitl was a key offensive force for the Oilers, notably contributing nine points in their five-game Western Conference Final win against the Stars. He`s also the only player in this postseason with two overtime winning goals. Both Draisaitl and McDavid boast impressive career playoff points-per-game rates (1.48 and 1.59 respectively), trailing only Gretzky and Lemieux all-time. Draisaitl had a quiet Final against Florida last year, recording just three assists and no goals, so expect him to be motivated for a stronger performance.
3. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
Bennett has been consistently finding the back of the net, scoring three goals in Round 1, three in Round 2, and four in the Conference Final. His total of 10 goals leads all players in the playoffs and is three more than any other participant in the Final. His strong performance is significantly boosting his value ahead of unrestricted free agency.
4. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Barkov has elevated his offensive production lately, registering nine points in his last six outings. However, a critical aspect of his role in the Final will be attempting to shut down Connor McDavid. If the Panthers are victorious, Barkov`s success in limiting McDavid`s impact would be a primary reason and a strong case for him to be named playoff MVP.
5. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
While playing alongside superstars like McDavid and Draisaitl can sometimes draw attention away, Evan Bouchard`s consistent offensive output in recent playoffs is undeniable. Since the beginning of the 2023 playoffs, he has amassed an impressive 66 points in 53 games, more than double the next highest-scoring defenseman (Miro Heiskanen with 32). In this year`s playoffs, Bouchard leads all defensemen with 17 points in 16 games and logs the highest average ice time (25:01) among all players in the Final.
Neville Woodall